Janata Dal (S) State President C.M. Ibrahim has tendered his resignation from his position following the party’s defeat in the recent Karnataka assembly elections. Ibrahim announced his decision during a media interaction, revealing that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has called for a meeting of party leaders on the same day.
Taking moral responsibility for the party’s electoral results in Karnataka, Ibrahim explained, “I submitted my resignation from the post a day after the announcement of the election results. Today, I have officially stepped down.” He extended his best wishes to the newly formed Congress government. When questioned about the possibility of holding a ministerial position had he not left the Congress before the elections, Ibrahim emphasized his commitment to maintaining dignity and self-respect, stating, “I won’t accept positions that lack honour. Self-respect matters to me.”
Ibrahim’s departure from the Congress came about due to disagreements with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2022. With the Janata Dal (S) fielding 148 candidates for the assembly polls, the party had hoped to play a decisive role in the election outcome. Among their candidates were 21 Muslims, aiming to secure a diverse representation in the assembly.
However, the party’s ambitions fell short as the Congress emerged victorious with a clear majority, leaving the Janata Dal (S) with only 19 seats and suffering defeat on its own turf. Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had previously declared that national parties would have to seek his support, but the Congress successfully garnered the Vokkaliga vote by projecting D.K. Shivakumar as a candidate for the Chief Minister’s position. In a blow to the Kumaraswamy family, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of H.D. Kumaraswamy, faced a resounding defeat at the hands of the Congress candidate in Ramnagar.
As the Janata Dal (S) begins its process of reflection and reevaluation, Ibrahim’s resignation marks a significant change within the party’s leadership structure following the election setback.
